Photovoltaic panel assemblies for structurally demanding applications

ABSTRACT

A PV panel assembly includes a PV panel and a frame. The PV panel includes one or more PV cells and is operable to provide electrical power at a panel output terminal in response to operating light incident on a panel upper surface. The frame extends along the panel peripheral edge and defines a frame inside surface which, together with a lower panel surface, defines a base volume. A molded base material is located in the base volume. A light-transmissive cover material extends over the panel first surface and over at least a portion of a frame outside surface which faces away from the base volume. The PV panel assembly may be incorporated in a landscape installation and connected with other such assemblies in the installation to provide a ground mounted PV panel array which also functions as a hardscape such as a walkway or patio.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/803,898 filed Feb. 27, 2020 entitled“LANDSCAPE PAVERS FOR GROUND INSTALLATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS,” whichclaimed the benefit of PCT International Patent Application No.PCT/US2019/045251 filed Aug. 6, 2019 and entitled “LANDSCAPE PAVERS FORGROUND INSTALLATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS, LANDSCAPE PAVERINSTALLATIONS, AND INSTALLATION METHODS,” which claimed the benefit,under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/764,495 filed Aug. 6, 2018 and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD OFLIGHT PERMEABLE LANDSCAPE PAVER FOR GROUND INSTALLATION OF PHOTOVOLTAICMODULE ARRAY.” The entire content of each of these prior patentapplications is incorporated herein by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to photovoltaic panels and photovoltaic panelsystems, and, more particularly, to photovoltaic panel assemblies whichmay be used in structurally demanding applications such as in walkwaysor patio hardscapes for example. The invention includes photovoltaicpanel assemblies which may be used in structurally demandingapplications and to installations of such photovoltaic panel assemblies.The invention also encompasses methods for producing a photovoltaicpanel assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A photovoltaic (PV) cell generates electricity in response to lightstriking a surface of the cell material. In particular, a PV cell may beplaced in sunlight to generate electricity from the sunlight strikingthe cell. Individual PV cells may be arranged in groups in a sheet ofmaterial to form a PV panel capable of generating a useful amount ofelectricity for storage or for immediate use in electrically powereddevices. PV generating capacity has grown exponentially within the pastfew decades and is an ever-increasing percentage of distributed energyproduction within the United States and around the world.

PV panel arrays are commonly installed on commercial and residentialrooftops to make use of that area for power generation. For low-sloperoofs (commonly defined as having no more than four inches of rise overevery twelve inches of run) a PV panel array may be installed with aracking system that is ballasted with weights to hold it down. There isno need for any rooftop penetrations in these low-slope roofs becausethe PV panels and racking are held by the weight of the ballast ratherthan a mechanical attachment to the roof structure. For steep-slopedroofs (commonly defined as having over four inches of rise for everytwelve inches of run) PV panel array installation requires a rackingsystem that must be mechanically attached to the roof structure. Thismechanical attachment generally requires penetrations to be drilledthrough the rooftop, so that the system can be bolted to the underlyingbuilding structure. The hardware of the penetration is then flashed andwaterproofed to the extent possible to prevent leakage.

Both low-slope and steep-sloped roof PV panel installations presentproblems, both practical and aesthetic. First, any rooftop PV panelinstallation that requires roof penetrations presents the problem ofpotential leakage and expensive repairs for leakage damage within thestructure and for preventing further leakage. With regard tosteep-sloped shingle roofs, the roof penetration and hardwareinstallation may break the mastic sealant which helps hold the rows ofshingles in place during high wind events, and thus leave the roof proneto wind damage. While ballasted PV panel racking systems which may beinstalled on low-slope roofs are typically less expensive to install andmay be installed relatively quickly, the ballast weight adds to the loadon the roof structure and thus the roof structure must be designed totake the added load. For some buildings a ballasted PV panel rackingsystem may only be added after the building structure is modified toproperly support the added weight. Both low-slope and steep-slope roofPV panel installations must also be designed for high and variable windconditions and dangers from seismic events, and must be tested in orderto be certified to UL standards for resistance to wind and seismicevents. Additionally, rooftop PV panel installations present relativelydangerous working conditions both for installation work and maintenancesince the installations are necessarily at height. The danger forworkers is particularly acute for steep-slope installations where aworker may easily slide off the roof and suffer a debilitating or evenfatal fall. Rooftop PV panel installations also present problems whenmaintenance is required for the roof or the roofing material must bereplaced. Such roofing repair or replacement may require the entirerooftop PV panel array to be removed and then reinstalled once theroofing repair or replacement is done.

In both low-slope and steep-slope roof installations, the PV panelsprovide a visual distraction to the roofing surface and the buildingaesthetic. This is particularly the case for steep-slope roofinstallations where the PV panels are clearly visible from generallyevery viewpoint to the building. Even in low-slope PV panelinstallations, some or all of at least some of the PV panels or theracking system may be visible from at least some points of view to thebuilding and may affect the building aesthetics.

There have been a number of attempts to minimize the visual impact ofthe PV panel array in rooftop installations. U.S. Pat. No. 8,319,093discloses a PV module particularly for use in rooftop installations. ThePV module, which may include a number of individual PV cells, includes acolor layer with pigments that cause the PV module to simulateconventional roofing. Another attempt to make a rooftop PV installationless apparent and visible is to incorporate the PV cells into a roofingmaterial or shingle that is applied into a field of conventional roofingmaterial. This approach is illustrated by Dow Powerhouse® shingles.However, these types of shingles do not blend in well with surroundingroofing shingles, and this may cause the installation to have a negativeimpact on the building aesthetics. Another drawback of incorporating PVcells into a roofing shingle is that it greatly multiplies the number ofelectrical connections that must be made in the PV installation, whichincreases both points of potential failure and installation labor. Yetanother drawback of incorporating PV cells into roofing shingles is theheat build-up occasioned by having the PV cells directly on the roofdeck and roofing underlayment with no means of cooling the cells.Conventional PV panel array installations rely on air flow beneath eachPV panel to isolate the PV cells from the rooftop temperatures which canreach fifty to one hundred degrees hotter than the ground ambienttemperature. Preventing undue heat buildup in a PV cell is importantbecause the heat buildup can lead to a large drop in output from the PVcell.

Yet another attempt to hide PV rooftop installations has been developedby Tesla Corporation where the PV cells are incorporated into glassshingles of tiles and these PV-integrated shingles or tiles areinstalled together with “blank” shingles or tiles which do notincorporate PV cells. This arrangement is intended to provide a singlecontinuous appearance across the entire roofing installation. However,this system requires a large number of electrical connections and alsosuffers from the heat buildup problem described above. In addition, theshingles or tiles are relatively heavy and require that the underlyingstructure be designed to accommodate the additional weight of theroofing material. The labor to install such a system is also more than astandard roof and the economics of the roofing material and labor maymake it cost prohibitive.

All rooftop PV device installations also have the disadvantage of havingto meet strict code requirements of electrical, fire, mechanical, andother regulations that are triggered when they are placed upon rooftops.If one does not want to deal with the restrictions, limitations andcosts associated with mounting a PV panel array on a rooftop, one couldconsider a ground mounted system where the array is placed on elevatingpoles or other structures on adjacent ground area to the building.However, a major limitation of such elevated ground installations isthat residential homes have limited area that is typically reserved forlawns, patios, sidewalks and other features demanded by residentialhomeowners. Commercial properties too may have limited free ground areafor such elevated ground PV panel array installations. Furthermore,elevated ground PV panel arrays in a residential or commercial settingcan be more aesthetically distracting than a roof mounted array.

U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2005/0199282 by Oleinick et al.and U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2018/0102730 by Brusaw et al.both disclose PV panel assemblies which may be used for paving roads,driveways, and walkways. These panel assemblies, however, have adistinctively non-traditional appearance and do not provide acost-effective or aesthetically pleasing installation that would bereadily accepted by commercial building owners or home owners. Thesepanel assemblies leave the PV panel prone to damage from forces whichmay be applied in a given installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide devices and systems whichovercome the above-noted problems and others associated with PV panelinstallations. These problems are addressed by providing PV panelassemblies which are suitable for structurally demanding applicationssuch as in ground installations. By facilitating the installation of PVpanels in structurally demanding settings such as in walkways and patiohardscapes, for example, the PV panel assemblies and installationsaccording to the present invention allow these settings to be used forelectrical power generation without interfering with the propertyaesthetics and without taking up property area only for such powergeneration.

A PV panel assembly according to one aspect of the present inventionincludes a PV panel and a frame, the frame being defined by a firstlateral side component and a second lateral side component. The PV panelhas a panel first surface and a panel second surface each bounded by apanel peripheral edge, with the panel peripheral edge defined by a firstside peripheral edge and a second side peripheral edge lying opposite toeach other. The PV panel includes one or more PV cells and is operableto provide electrical power at a panel output terminal in response tooperating light incident on the panel first surface. The first lateralside component extends along the first side peripheral edge of the paneland defines a first lateral side inside surface. The second lateral sidecomponent extends along the second side peripheral edge of the panel anddefines a second lateral side inside surface lying opposite to the firstlateral side inside surface so that the two (first and second) lateralside inside surfaces together with the panel second surface, define abase volume. A molded base material is located in the base volume. Thismolded base material comprises a material solidified from a flowablematerial placed in the base volume and molded against at least a portionof the panel second surface and against at least a portion of the firstand second lateral side inside surfaces. A light-transmissive covermaterial extends over the panel first surface.

In a PV panel assembly according to this first aspect of the invention,the molded base material provides a rigid support for the PV panel whichallows the paver to be placed on the ground or a prepared sand bed. Theframe made up of the first and second lateral side components provides aform for receiving the base material in the manufacture of the paver.The light-transmissive cover material extending over the panel firstsurface provides a tough and wear-resistant material to protect thepanel first surface from footsteps and the weight of objects placed onthe installed panel assembly. However, light and sunlight in particularmay still penetrate through the cover material to reach the PV panelfirst surface and cause the panel to generate electricity. Thus a PVpanel assembly according to this first aspect of the invention may beinstalled in a structurally demanding setting such as a landscape, andthe panel output terminals connected to provide electrical generationfor current use or storage in an electrical storage system such as abattery system.

As used in this disclosure and the accompanying claims, the designation“PV panel” refers to a device having one or more PV cells which producea photovoltaic effect in response to operating light incident on asurface of the cell. “Operating light” is used herein to refer to thelevel of light needed for the PV cell to produce the photovoltaiceffect. Such PV cells may be formed in any fashion using anyphotovoltaic material technology now known or developed in the future.For example, a solar cell which may be used in a PV panel in accordancewith the present invention may comprise a monocrystalline,polycrystalline, or amorphous silicon cell, thin film PV cell, multijunction PV cell, or any other type of PV cell. In accordance withcurrent manufacturing techniques, a number of PV cells whichindividually provide a small light collection area are typicallyconnected together to form a PV panel which overall provides a largelight collection area. However, the designation “PV panel” as used inthis disclosure and accompanying claims is not limited to such multiplePV cell arrangements. Also, a PV panel as used in this disclosure willcommonly include a sheet of backing material and a sheet of transparentupper surface material in the PV panel structure. These backing andupper surface materials serve to protect the PV cells, conductor traces,and other electronic elements which may be included with the PV cells.

The designation “light-transmissive” as used in this disclosure and theaccompanying claims means that the material or structure is capable oftransmitting operating light to the collection surface of a PV cell,that is, sufficient light to, when the light is incident on the surfaceof a PV cell, cause the PV cell to generate electricity. Alight-transmissive material need not transmit all wavelengths equally,and may essentially block or greatly attenuate some wavelengths in thespectrum of sunlight. Regardless of any such wavelength transmissivitypreference, sufficient light at a given wavelength may pass through thelight-transmissive material in the thicknesses used in the structuresdescribed herein to cause a PV cell operable on that wavelength toproduce the photovoltaic effect to generate electricity. Of course,implementations according to the various aspects of the invention mayuse highly light-transmissive materials to allow for higher levels ofelectricity generation from installations according to the presentinvention.

The present disclosure and accompanying claims may use terms such astop, bottom, side, lateral, upper, and lower in reference to a certainfeature or structure. These relative positional terms are used withreference to the orientation of the example PV panel assemblies andinstallations shown in the drawings.

In some implementations of a PV panel assembly according to the firstaspect of the invention, the first and second lateral side componentseach include a panel capture flange having a capture surface facing thepanel first surface in an area adjacent to the panel peripheral edge.Since the molded base material is molded against the first and secondlateral side components to connect the molded base material to theselateral side components, the capture flange serves to couple the PVpanel to the molded base material. That is, the first and second lateralside components are fixed to the molded base material by virtue of themolding, and the PV panel is fixed relative to the two lateral sidecomponents by abutment against the capture flange. This coupling of thePV panel to the molded base material via the two lateral side componentsis addition to the coupling provided by molding the base materialagainst the panel second surface.

The first and second lateral side components making may each alsoinclude a base material capture flange located at an end of thecomponent opposite to the end having the panel capture flange. The basematerial capture flange is in position to help retain the molded basematerial in position relative to the first and second lateral sidecomponents and the PV panel.

Regardless of how the PV panel is positioned or connected to the frameprior to introduction of the material which forms the molded basematerial of a PV panel assembly according to the first aspect of theinvention, a portion of the frame made up of the first and secondlateral side components may be exposed on a bottom surface of the PVpanel assembly. Where the frame is formed from an electricallyconductive material, this exposed portion of the frame provides agrounding point for the PV panel assembly.

Implementations of a PV panel assembly according to the first aspect ofthe invention may also include reinforcing elements embedded in themolded base material to enhance the strength of the composite structuremade up of the PV panel, frame (made up of the first and second lateralside components), molded base material, and cover material. Suchreinforcing elements may be included in spaced apart layers ofreinforcing fibers or other elements within the thickness of the moldedbase material and may extend substantially parallel to the panel planedefined by the PV panel first surface. Embedding features may also beincluded protruding from the inside surface of each of the first andsecond lateral side components in position to be embedded in the moldedbase material. The embedding features may help to retain the position ofthe first and second lateral side components and the PV panel coupled tothe molded base material.

The cover material included in PV panel assemblies according to thefirst aspect of the invention may be a material molded on to the PVpanel and frame. In this case, a layer of the molded cover materialdefines a lower cover material surface which is molded against the panelfirst surface and defines a cover material upper surface facing awayfrom the panel first surface. Also in these molded cover materialembodiments, a cover material inside lateral surface may be moldedagainst an outside surface of each of the first and second lateral sidecomponents.

A PV panel assembly according to the first aspect of the invention mayinclude at least one reduced light transmissivity layer located in thecover material between a load receiving surface and the panel firstsurface. Any such reduced light transmissivity layer is formed from alight-transmissive material in which is includedlow-light-transmissivity granular material. “Low-light-transmissivity”in this sense and as used elsewhere in this disclosure and theaccompanying claims means that the granular material transmits less thanapproximately 50% of incident light in the operating spectrum of thegiven PV panel. This low-light-transmissivity granular material servesto provide an appearance to the PV panel assembly that may mimic atraditional landscape paver of concrete, stone, or other traditionalpaver material. The appearance may be enhanced by the color presented bythe panel first surface visible through the light transmissive covermaterial and by granular material which exhibits a light transmissivitygreater than a low-light-transmissivity material and may be included inthe reduced light transmissivity layer or elsewhere in the PV panelassembly above the PV panel. In some cases, the low-light-transmissivitygranular material may be suspended in the reduced light transmissivitylayer below the load receiving surface. In any event thelow-light-transmissivity granular material is preferably present in sucha concentration that it reduces the light transmissivity of the reducedlight transmissivity layer by no more than approximately 10%. That is,the concentration of low-light-transmissivity material in the reducedlight transmissivity layer is preferably limited to a concentration inwhich the low-light-transmissivity material reduces the lighttransmissivity of the layer by no more than approximately 10% ascompared to a case in which no low-light-transmissivity material wasincluded in the layer. Also, the grains which make up thelow-light-transmissivity granular material may be limited to a certainsize ranges to produce the desired appearance while avoiding undueimpact on the amount of light which may reach the PV panel.

A second aspect of the invention encompasses a PV panel installationwhich may employ PV panel assemblies according to the first aspect ofthe invention. A PV panel installation according to this second aspectof the invention includes a PV panel supporting bed and two or more PVpanel assemblies as described above supported on the supporting bed.Some implementations may further include a moisture introductionarrangement in fluid communication with the PV panel supporting bed. ThePV panel supporting bed in these installations may be formed as a layerof granular material such as a layer of paver sand which produces aporous and permeable layer of material above a suitable subgrade.

The moisture introduction arrangement allows water to be released intothe porous and permeable layer formed by the granular material making upthe PV panel supporting layer. This introduced water and the evaporationof the water serves to moderate the temperature of the PV panelsupporting bed and thereby moderate the temperature the PV panel in theinstallation. This moderation of temperature allows the PV panel tooperate more efficiently and compensates for any loss of efficiencycause by the reduction of light incident on the panel through the covermaterial. In particular, the moderation of temperature helps compensatefor the reduction of light reaching the PV panel occasioned by anyreduced light transmissivity layer in the PV panel assemblies.

In installations according to this second aspect of the invention whichinclude the moisture introduction arrangement, the moisture introductionarrangement may include at least one conduit extending through thevolume defined by the PV panel supporting bed. The conduit incorporatessuitable emitters or is formed at least partially from a water-permeablematerial to facilitate the communication of water from the conduit tothe porous and permeable layer comprising the PV panel supporting bed.

A third aspect of the present invention encompasses methods of producinga PV panel assembly having a PV panel such as that described above inconnection with the first aspect of the invention. Methods according tothis aspect of the invention include supporting the PV panel on asupport surface in a first molding position in which the panel secondsurface faces upwardly away from the support surface. The methodsfurther include defining a base volume of the PV panel assembly. Thisbase volume comprises a volume defined by the panel second surface and aperipheral transverse surface extending along the entire length of thepanel peripheral edge where the peripheral transverse surface extendstransverse to a plane defined by the panel second surface. Whilesupporting the PV panel in the first molding position, methods accordingto this aspect of the invention further include placing a flowablebase-forming material within at least a portion of the base volume sothat the flowable base-forming material is molded against at least aportion of the panel second surface and at least a portion of theperipheral transverse surface. The flowable base-forming material isthen caused to solidify while molded against the panel second surfaceand peripheral transverse surface to thereby form a molded base materialwithin the base volume and being molded against the portion of the panelsecond surface and the portion of the peripheral transverse surface. Onethe flowable base-forming material is solidified the PV panel is removedfrom the first molding position together with the molded base material.A light-transmissive cover material is then molded against substantiallythe entire panel first surface.

An installation as described above and in further detail below inconnection with the drawings, functions to provide a PV panel array thatmay be identical or very similar in appearance to that of a conventionalconstruction feature such as a landscape paver patio, walkway or driveway while simultaneously providing solar generated electricity. The sunenergy moves through the atmosphere and strikes the top surface of thePV panel assemblies and travels through the light-transmissive covermaterials and then into the PV panel where the electricity is generated.Where included in the installation, the moisture introductionarrangement (which may comprise low volume drip irrigation lines)provides cooling to the PV panels including any associated electronics,such as batteries and micro-inverters, through the heat absorbingcapacity of the water and through the cooling occasioned by evaporationof the introduced water. The PV panel assemblies can be installed in aconfiguration to form areas of a patio, walkway, or drive of uniformappearance which blends in well or is even indistinguishable fromadjacent areas formed from traditional, non-PV generation enabling,materials.

The PV panel installation according to the various aspects and featureof the invention has the following advantages:

-   -   (1) No rooftop installation is required, thus avoiding drawbacks        and dangers of rooftop installation as described above, such as        roof modification and the unsightly appearance of the PV panel        array on the roof    -   (2) No conventional ground mount is required which takes up        ground space and is unsightly.    -   (3) The installed PV panel array may also provide a functional        and aesthetically pleasing ground surface amenity such as a        patio, walkway, or drive way.    -   (4) The diurnal temperature swings of installations according to        the invention may be typically on the order of ten degrees        Fahrenheit where the ambient temperature swing might be        thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit and the rooftop temperature        swings might be one hundred degrees Fahrenheit. The lower        temperature swing reduces stresses on the PV panels and        associated electronic components.    -   (5) The PV panel electrical generation performance is better        that prior art installations due to the cooler operating        temperatures.    -   (6) Installation labor and maintenance is lower in cost and        safer for on-ground locations as opposed to the elevated roof or        elevated ground mount locations.

These and other aspects of the invention and advantages and features ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description ofrepresentative embodiments, considered along with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a PV panel assembly comprising alandscape paver embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cover material showing areduced light transmissivity layer.

FIG. 4 is a view in section similar to FIG. 2, but showing a PV panelassembly comprising a landscape paver having an alternate framestructure.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view along a vertical plane through a PV panelinstallation embodying principles of the invention, the PV panelinstallation employing landscape pavers as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate landscape paver embodyingprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially broken-away perspective view of a framed PV panelwhich may be used in a PV panel installation in accordance with aspectsof the invention.

FIG. 8 is an elevation view along a vertical plane through a PV panelinstallation embodying principles of the invention, the PV panelinstallation employing landscape pavers as shown in FIG. 6 and framed PVpanels as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a small portion of a PV panel installationsimilar to that shown in FIG. 8, but showing an alternate elastomerarrangement between the pavers and PV panel.

FIG. 10 is a schematic section representation of a PV panel installationaccording one implementation of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic section representation of a PV panel installationaccording another implementation of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, FIGS. 1-4 will be referenced below todescribe PV panel assemblies which include an integrated PV panel andinstallations using such composite PV panel assemblies. FIGS. 5-9 willbe referenced below to describe installations in which a PV panel is setseparately from pavers to form a hardscape capable of PV powergeneration, and pavers which may be used in such installations. FIG. 10will be referenced to describe another example PV panel installation inaccordance with aspects of the invention in which the PV panels are setin place in the installation separately from the landscape pavers andother installation components. FIG. 11 will be referenced to describeanother example PV panel installation in accordance with aspects of theinvention in which a PV panel is integrated with a paver and set inplace in the installation by setting the paver.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a composite PV panel assembly inaccordance with aspects of the present invention in which a PV panel iscoupled to a base material. This particular PV panel assembly comprisesa landscape paver 100. As indicated in the figure, it is not apparent atleast from the illustrated perspective that paver 100 incorporates a PVpanel (the PV panel being shown at 200 in FIG. 2). The outwardappearance from this perspective provides the appearance of atraditional square paver with a top surface 101 (representing a loadreceiving surface for the paver) and in the case of this square example,four side surfaces 102 including the two such surfaces visible from thisperspective. The hidden lines shown in FIG. 1 show the outline of arigid frame 104 which is included in composite paver 100, and defined byframe elements 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, and 104 d. Rigid frame 104 isassociated with a PV panel included in paver 100 and shown and describedin connection with the section view of FIG. 2. As will be describedbelow in connection with FIG. 2, frame 104 may be thought of asincluding two opposing lateral side components. In this particularexample, the portion of frame 104 comprising frame elements 104 a and104 b may be thought of as a first lateral side component, and theportion of frame 104 comprising frame elements 104 c and 104 d may bethought of as a second lateral side component. A defining characteristicof the first and second lateral side components is that they each extendalong a respective portion of a peripheral edge of the PV panel and lieon opposite each other across the PV panel (as best illustrated in FIG.2, but also apparent from FIG. 1). Depending upon the particularconstruction of the paver 100 using low-light-transmissivity granularmaterial as discussed in detail below, the rigid frame 104 and the PVpanel may not be discernable as such from the perspective shown inFIG. 1. In this example, the only indication that paver 100 incorporatesa PV panel is the arrangement of two pairs of leads 106 and 108protruding from a bottom surface of the paver not visible in thisperspective.

It should be appreciated that the square shape of paver 100 is simplyprovided as an example and that pavers according to the presentinvention may be formed in any desired shape. Pavers according to theinvention may provide a top surface in the shape of an elongatedrectangle or other polygonal shape, or a circle, oval, or othernon-polygonal shape. Also, although FIG. 1 shows that the top surface101 and side surfaces 102 of paver 100 includes slight undulations orcontours across the surfaces, each surface remains substantially planar.Various features or roughness may be molded or otherwise provided inparticularly top surface 101 to provide a generally planar, nonslipsurface appropriate for use as a walking surface. Also, PV panelassemblies embodying principles of the invention such as example paver100 may have any suitable dimensions, including common traditional paverdimensions. For example, paver 100 may be approximately 24 inches by 24inches and approximately 2 inches thick along a thickness axis T shownin FIG. 2.

The section view of FIG. 2 shows that the PV panel shown generally at200 and frame 104 (made up of elements 104 a-d and including 104 b and104 d visible in the section of FIG. 2) are included in paver 100between a molded base material 202 and a cover material 203. PV panel200 has a panel first surface 205 and a panel second surface 206. Thesetwo surfaces 205 and 206 are bounded by a peripheral edge 207. In thisexample implementation, peripheral edge 207 of PV panel 200 formsgenerally a square shape in top plan view to maximize the surface areaof panel first surface 205 in paver 100. Operating light incident onpanel first surface 205 produces a photovoltaic effect so that PV panel200 is operable to provide electrical power at a panel output terminal,defined in this case by either of the two pairs of leads 106 and 108shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2. The example PV panel 200 includes ajunction box 208 located on the panel second surface 206. Junction box208 may include electronic components associated with panel 200 andterminals for the positive and negative wires of leads 106 and thepositive and negative wires of leads 108. It will be appreciated that PVpanels such as panel 200 may, depending upon the PV technology employed,be formed from multiple layers of semiconductor materials together withother structures such as conductor traces, all encapsulated between oneor more layers of backing material and one or more layers of glass orother transparent cover material. Since the present inventionencompasses any PV technology for producing a PV panel, and since in anyevent the internal structure of the PV panel is not relevant to anunderstanding of the present invention, each PV panel shown in sectionin the drawings is shown without any internal detail.

FIG. 2 shows that frame elements 104 b and 104 d of rigid frame 104 inthe example embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 each includes a frame member 210that extends in the direction of the thickness axis T and transvers(perpendicular in this example) to a plane defined by panel firstsurface 205. In this example, and as is apparent from the hidden linesshown in FIG. 1, frame member 210 extends along the entire panelperipheral edge 207 and thus frame elements 104 a and 104 c also includeframe member 210. The frame member 210 of each frame element 104 a-ddefines a frame inside surface 211 and a frame member border surface 211a with the latter facing the peripheral edge 207. The frame insidesurface 211 along frame elements 104 a and 104 b may be thought of as afirst lateral side inside surface defined by the first lateral sidecomponent (made up of frame elements 104 a-b) while the frame insidesurface 211 along frame elements 104 c and 104 d may be though of as asecond lateral side inside surface defined by the second lateral sidecomponent (made up of frame elements 104 c-d). The frame inside surface211, that is the first and second lateral side inside surfaces, togetherwith the panel second surface 206 defines a base volume while a frameoutside surface 212 along each of the frame elements 104 a-d faces awayfrom the base volume. The molded base material 202 is located in thebase volume and in this example fills the entire base volume so as todefine most of a bottom surface 214 of paver 100. In particular, moldedbase material 202 includes a base material backing surface which ismolded against at least a portion of panel second surface 206 and alateral surface which is molded against at least a portion of the frameinside surface 211. The example of FIG. 2 shows two different spacedapart layers of reinforcing material 204 included in the molded basematerial 202 to improve the strength characteristics of paver 100, andparticularly, improve resistance to bending from a plane parallel to theplane of panel first surface 205.

Cover material 203 extends over the panel first surface 205 andpreferably, but not necessarily, over at least a portion of the frameoutside surface 212. In this example, cover material 203 extends oversubstantially all of the frame outside surface 212 to define all of thesides 102 of paver 100. Cover material 203 is comprised of a lighttransmissive material at least in portions extending over one or moreareas of panel first surface 205 and preferably over the entire panelfirst surface. As will be discussed below, cover material 203 mayinclude a material which is molded over the PV panel and frame to definea lower cover material surface molded against the panel first surfaceand a cover material inside lateral surface molded against the frameoutside surface 212, that is, against the outside surface of the frameelements 104 a-d making up the first and second lateral side componentsof the PV panel assembly comprising paver 100.

In the example of FIG. 2 frame 104 includes a panel support flange 216extending from frame inside surface 211. This panel support flange 216defines a peripheral sealing surface 217 abutting a portion of panelsecond surface 206 in this case. This example frame 104 further includesa panel capture flange 218 located at a panel capture end of framemember 210. Panel capture flange 218 together with panel support flange216 defines a panel receiving channel which captures peripheral edge 207of PV panel 200 around the entire peripheral edge. In the example ofFIG. 2 at least a portion of frame 104 is exposed on bottom surface 214of landscape paver 100. Where the frame comprises an electricallyconductive material such as aluminum, this exposed portion of frame 104provides a ground point for the PV panel when the paver is placed in aninstalled position as will be described further below in connection withFIG. 5. Alternatively, the entire frame 104 may be completelyencapsulated within base material 202 and cover material 203 so that theframe is isolated from the environment.

In order to produce an appearance approximating a traditional landscapepaver, paver 100 includes a reduced light transmissivity layer 221 shownin FIG. 2 as a thin layer of material which includes the paver topsurface 101. This reduced light transmissivity layer 221 includes alight transmissive material 301 in which is embedded or otherwiseincluded low-light-transmissivity granular material 302 as shown in theenlarged view of FIG. 3. The low-light-transmissivity granular materialmay comprise grains of sand, quartz, plastics, combinations of thesematerials, and or other suitable low-light-transmissivity granularmaterials to produce the desired appearance. While the grains 302 oflow-light-transmissivity granular material will block some of theincident light from passing through from paver top surface 101 to panelfirst surface 205, the granular material is preferably included in sucha concentration so as to reduce the overall light transmissivity of thereduced light transmissivity layer by no more than approximately 10%,that is, 10% as compared to the light transmissive material 301 in layer221 if the material included no such granular material. Thelow-light-transmissivity granular material positioned over one or moreareas of the reduced light transmissivity layer 221 may be made up ofgrains having a maximum dimension between approximate 10 microns andapproximately 7500 microns, and preferably between approximately 2000microns and approximately 3000 microns.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative PV panel assembly in the form of a paver 400including a rigid frame 401 having a different configuration as comparedto frame 104 shown in FIG. 2. This alternate embodiment includes a PVpanel 404, molded base material 405, and cover material 406 similar tothe embodiment shown in FIG. 2. However, frame 401 includes tubestructure including an outside member 408 and an inside member 409.Outside member 408 in this embodiment forms the frame outside surface411 facing cover material 406, while inside member 409 forms the frameinside surface 412. Frame 401 also includes a base member 413 which isexposed at the paver bottom side 414. Base member 413 also includes alip or base material capture flange 415 which projects from insidesurface 412. The example frame 401 shown in FIG. 4 also includesembedding elements comprising studs 416 which may be spaced apart alongthe frame inside surface 412 along the length of the frame to furtherstrengthen the composite structure.

The alternative paver construction shown in FIG. 4 also includes anaccess opening 418 formed in the molded base material 405 to provideaccess to panel junction box 420. In this alternate construction, leadpairs 421 and 422 extend through the access opening rather than beingembedded in the molded base material as shown in the example of FIG. 2.

The example of FIG. 4 also shows a GPS electronic module 424 operativelyconnected to a battery 425 for supplying power to the GPS electronicmodule. In this example GPS electronic module 424 and battery 425 arecontained in PV panel junction box 420 although it will be appreciatedthat these elements may be located in a separate junction box or placedin another location within the paver structure. A small portion of thePV panel output in this arrangement may be used to charge battery 425.Suitable electronic components for providing the desired charging may behoused within junction box 420 or elsewhere in the paver. GPS electronicmodule 424 may be in wired or wireless communication with appropriatereceiving hardware located in paver 400 or remotely to provide spatiallocation of the module and therefore the composite paver 400 in which itis located. In addition to providing spatial location information, GPSelectronic module 424, or a separate electronic module located injunction box 420 or elsewhere in the structure of paver 400, may includeelectronic components for monitoring and collecting performance data forthe paver such as power output, paver temperature, and cumulative poweroutput, for example. This performance data for paver 400 may becommunicated from GPS electronic module 424 or other module tomonitoring and reporting components for the PV panel assemblyinstallation in which paver 400 is included.

The alternate PV panel assembly construction shown in FIG. 4 alsoincludes a different configuration for the reduced light transmissivitylayer as compare to that shown in FIG. 2. In the example of FIG. 4, allof cover material 406 makes up the reduced light transmissivity layerincluding low-light-transmissivity granular material 427. However, itshould be appreciated that implementations according to the presentinvention are not limited to the two arrangements for the reduced lighttransmissivity layer shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. For example, anotherarrangement within the scope of the present invention includes adistinct reduced light transmissivity layer spaced apart from both theassembly top surface and from the surface of the cover material facingthe PV panel. Additionally, there may be multiple reduced lighttransmissivity layers in the cover material over the PV panel. Moregenerally, the reduced light transmissivity layer or layers may beformed at any location of the cover material and in any fashion toincorporate the low-light-transmissivity granular material. In any ofthese arrangements, the granules of low-light-transmissivity material inone or more layers above the PV panel first surface together withcoloration of the PV panel first surface (and the coloration of anyupwardly facing frame surfaces) allows the PV panel assembly to match orat least approximate the appearance of a traditional paver appropriatefor walkways, patios, and other hardscapes.

Numerous types of materials may be used for forming the frame, such asframes 104 and 401, shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively. For example,the rigid frame may be formed from aluminum or other suitable metals.These frames may also be formed from plastics. Also, because the framemay be completely encapsulated and protected within the cover material,the frame may be formed from fiber board and similar materials.

Base material such as that shown at 202 and 405 in FIGS. 2 and 4,respectively, may comprise concrete or any other suitable material whichmay be molded within the frame. Where concrete is used it may includelightening materials and additives to provide the desired strength andweight characteristics for the completed PV panel assembly.

The cover material which may be used in a composite PV panel assemblyaccording to the present invention may comprise a suitable clear polymerresin, epoxy, pourable clear plastic polymer, or any clear, moldablematerial which provides the desired light transmissivity when thematerial is cured or hardened.

It should also be appreciated that any of the features shown in the twoexample configurations of FIGS. 2 and 4 may be used in otherconfigurations within the scope of the present invention. For example,although reinforcing material 204 is shown only in the embodiment ofFIG. 2, such material may also be included in any other embodimentincluding the embodiment of FIG. 4. Likewise, the studs 416 shown in theexample of FIG. 4, may be included in any other embodiment, includingthe embodiment of FIG. 2.

The composite PV panel assemblies shown for example in FIGS. 2 and 4 maybe formed in any suitable process. One preferred fabrication processincludes first forming the PV panel and frame arrangement with the framearrangement defining a peripheral transverse surface (e.g., surface 211in FIG. 2), and supporting this arrangement inverted from the positionshown in the figures so that the peripheral transverse surface (211 inFIG. 2) and panel second surface (206 in FIG. 2) form an upwardly facingreceptacle for receiving base material in liquid or flowable form. Sincethe base material may be fairly heavy, good support may be needed forthe PV panel to prevent bending in the PV panel under the load of thebase material before the base material solidifies. Also, forms may berequired to provide any desired features in the base material, such asthe access opening 418 shown in FIG. 4.

Once the base material is placed in the above-noted upwardly openingreceptacle formed by the frame and PV panel, and solidifiesappropriately, the resulting intermediate structure of PV panel, frame,and base material may be placed in a suitable mold which allows thecover material to be molded on to the structure. For example, theintermediate structure may be placed PV panel side down into a moldwhich leaves a gap into which the cover material may be poured,injected, or otherwise placed. It is also possible to partially prefillthe mold and press the intermediate structure into the partially filledmold to form the desired cover layer. Once the cover material hashardened sufficiently, the resulting structure may be removed from themold for any further processing or assembly.

Any low-light-transmissivity granular material desired for a givenimplementation may be introduced into the structure in a number of wayswithin the scope of the present invention. For example, the granularmaterial may be spread out across the bottom of the mold used to moldthe cover material onto the intermediate structure. This processproduces a reduced light transmissivity layer generally as shown in theexample of FIGS. 2 and 3. Alternatively, the low-light-transmissivitygranular material may be mixed uniformly with the cover material priorto being molded on to the intermediate structure to produce a reducedlight transmissivity layer as shown in the example of FIG. 4. In yetother techniques, the cover material may be molded on in multiplelayers, any one or more of which may contain thelow-light-transmissivity granular material.

The view of FIG. 5 may be used to described a PV panel installationemploying PV panel assemblies such as those shown in FIGS. 1-4.Installation 500 includes a PV panel supporting bed 501 formed on asubgrade 502. PV panel supporting bed 501 includes a layer of granularmaterial above subgrade 502, preferably a granular material such aspaver sand. A moisture introduction arrangement is in fluidcommunication with PV panel supporting bed 501. In this case themoisture introduction arrangement includes at least one conduit 504extending through the volume defined by PV panel supporting bed 501.Conduit 504 may include periodic emitters or may be formed in part or insections of a permeable material to allow water directed through theconduits 504 to escape into the granular material comprising PV panelsupporting bed 501.

The example of FIG. 5 shows multiple pavers 100 set in PV panelsupporting bed 501 so as to be supported by the bed of granularmaterial. The PV panels 200 integrated in pavers 100 are shown connectedin series by lead pairs 106 and 107. Each of these connections may beformed from a suitable waterproof connector 506 such as an MC-4connector for example. Although not shown FIG. 5, it will be appreciatedthat these lead pairs 106 and 107 are connected to the leads of othersuch pavers to form an array of series connected panels which isultimately connected by suitable means to further equipment associatedwith the array. In particular, panels such as panels 200 shown FIG. 5may be connected in series to an inverter as is known in the field of PVpanel arrays. However, the present invention is not limited to anyparticular arrangement for connecting the various PV panels of an arrayof pavers. For example, PV panels according to the invention may beconnected in parallel with each other rather than in series. Also, anyadditional electrical equipment may be included in an installation suchas installation 500 to enhance the performance or otherwise affect theperformance of the PV panel array including optimizers and othercircuitry that may be associated with each panel or groups of panels inthe installation.

Regardless of how the PV panels in the composite PV panel assemblypavers are connected to equipment for extracting power from the array,the paver provides cover material 203 as a light transmissive layerabove each panel so that light, especially sunlight, incident on thepaver may pass through to the PV panel. The light transmissive layeralso serves to protect the relatively fragile PV panel surfaces fromcontact and also serve as a carrier for the granular material describedabove which provides the desired appearance for the pavers. Meanwhile,the molded base material 202 in each paver 100 supports the respectivePV panel 200 to prevent any bending forces in the panel which mightdamage the panel structure. Base material 202 also functions to transferany forces applied to the light transmissive load bearing surface 101 ofthe PV panel assembly paver to the material making up the PV panelsupporting bed 501 below. Water may be introduced into the granularmaterial making up the PV panel supporting bed 501, and this introducedwater together with the evaporation of that water helps moderate thetemperature of pavers 100 and PV panels 200 incorporated in the pavers.Aside from the water which may be introduced into PV panel supportingbed 501, the thermal mass of the bed 501 and subgrade 502 in which it isformed also helps moderate temperature swings in PV panels 200 due toincident sunlight and atmospheric conditions.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative landscape paver 600 which may be used ininstallations in accordance with aspects of the present invention inwhich the PV panel is not incorporated in the pavers, but is installedseparately from the pavers. Paver 600 includes a paver load receivingsurface or top surface 601, a paver bottom surface (the edge of which isindicated at 602), and a paver lateral surface 603. In this case thepaver lateral surface 603 comprises the four lateral sides of therectangular box shape formed by the paver. The paver body definedbetween the paver load receiving surface 601, paver bottom surface 602,and paver lateral surface 603 is light transmissive so that at leastsome light incident on the paver load receiving surface 601 may travelthrough the paver body and escape from the paver body through paverbottom surface 602. Paver 600 also includes at least one reduced lighttransmissivity layer extending transverse to a direction from paver loadreceiving surface 601 to paver bottom surface 602. The reduced lighttransmissivity layer in paver 600 includes a light transmissive materialin which is included low-light-transmissivity granular material asdescribed above in connection with FIGS. 2 and 4.

In the example paver 600 shown in FIG. 6, the paver body includes anupper assembly 606 and a lower assembly 607. Upper assembly 606 in thisexample is made up of a single layer 609 comprising the reduced lighttransmissivity layer of the paver, and a main layer 610 of lighttransmissive material. Lower assembly 607 in paver 600 includes a layer612 of light transmissive elastomer material. As will be described belowin connection with an installation in which paver 600 is used, thislight transmissive elastomer is placed facing and perhaps directly incontact with the upwardly facing surface of the PV panel.

While example paver 600 includes three layers of material, layers 609,610, and 612, it will be appreciated that a light transmissive paver inaccordance with the aspects of the invention may include more than threelayers. Also, it is possible that a bottom elastomer layer may beomitted from the paver and instead applied in an installation as aseparate layer of material. In this case a light transmissive paver mayinclude only the reduced light transmissivity layer and one additionallayer, or even a single layer of material incorporatinglow-light-transmissivity granular material. The various layers ofmaterial included in the upper assembly 606 of paver 600 may include anyof the light transmissive materials described above in connection withthe composite pavers shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Thelow-light-transmissivity granular material may also comprise any of thematerials described above in connection with the composite pavers.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a PV panel structure which may be usedtogether with light transmissive pavers such as paver 600 to produce aPV panel installation in accordance with aspects of the presentinvention. The illustrated PV panel structure includes a PV panel 700having a panel first surface 701 to which light may be directed toproduce the desired photovoltaic effect. PV panel 700 in this example ismounted in a rigid frame 703 which extends around the entire peripheraledge of PV panel 700. Frame 703 may have a channel structure similar tothat shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 for capturing the peripheral edge of PVpanel 700. Frame 703 also includes a frame member which may be similarto frame member 210 shown in FIG. 2 or a tube structure having framemembers similar to frame members 408 and 409 shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 shows a PV panel installation 800 employing pavers 600 shown inFIG. 6 and the PV panel structure shown in FIG. 7. Installation 800includes a PV panel supporting bed 801 of granular material formed on asubgrade 802 similar to the PV panel supporting bed 501 shown in theinstallation of FIG. 5. However, in installation 800 each PV panelstructure including PV panel 700 and frame 703 is set directly in the PVpanel supporting bed 801. That is, PV panels 700 are positioned on panelsupporting bed 801 with panel first surface 701 facing upwardly and thepanel second surface 702 (shown in FIG. 7) facing the granular materialforming the PV panel supporting bed. Since this example includes frame703 with each PV panel 700, the frame protrudes into the material of PVpanel supporting bed 801 in position to stabilize the PV panel fromlateral movement. PV panels 700 in this installation are connected inseries via connectors 806 similarly to the arrangement shown in FIG. 5,although alternative installations may connect the panels differently asdescribed above in connection with the installation shown in FIG. 5together with additional circuitry known in the field of PV powergeneration.

The light transmissive paver 600 in this installation is placed with thebottom surface 602 formed by elastomer material 612 facing the upwardlyfacing panel first surface 701 while the panel second surface 702 issupported by the granular material making up the PV panel supporting bed801. This support from PV panel supporting bed 801 below prevents therelatively fragile PV panel 700 from bending significantly under loadswhich may be placed on the top surface of the installation comprisingthe load receiving surfaces 601 of pavers 600.

The example installation 800 of FIG. 8 includes conduits 804 similar tothose described above in connection with the insulation shown in FIG. 6.However other implementations including separately installed pavers andPV panels may omit the conduits and rely on the temperature moderatingeffect of subgrade 802 and PV panel supporting bed 801 to moderate thetemperatures of the PV panels and thus improve the performance andreliability of the panels.

FIG. 9 shows a small portion of another installation 900 similar to thatshown in FIG. 8. The view of FIG. 9 shows that installation 900 includesa framed PV panel 901 similar panel 700 and frame 703 in FIG. 8,supported on a PV panel support bed 905 corresponding to bed 801 in FIG.8. Installation 900 further includes light transmissive pavers 906 abovePV panel 901. However, installation 900 shown in FIG. 9 relies on aseparate sheet 908 of light transmissive elastomer between the upwardlyfacing surface of PV panel 901 and the bottom surface 910 of the lighttransmissive pavers 906 placed over the PV panels in the installation.This is in contrast to the arrangement shown in FIG. 8 using pavers suchas those shown in FIG. 6 which incorporate an elastomer layer as thebottom layer of the paver itself. Yet other implementations may includeboth an elastomer layer at the bottom of the pavers as in FIGS. 6 and 8,and a separate sheet of elastomer material such as sheet 908 in FIG. 9that extends over the upwardly facing first panel surface in position toreceive the light transmissive pavers.

The PV panel installation shown schematically in FIG. 10 includes twolight-transmissive landscape pavers 1000 located on top of a PV panel1001. PV panel 1001 is positioned in landscape ground 1002 set on top ofa PV panel supporting bed comprising a bed of sand 1003. An optionallayer of landscape fabric 1004 is located between the PV panel lowersurface and the upper surface of sand bed 1003. Sand bed 1003 maycontain a series of low volume drip lines 1005 similar to dripirrigation lines to emit water to sand bed 1003 in a controlled mannerfor cooling of PV panel 1001, and any associated electronics, such asbatteries or micro-inverters 1006.

Light transmissive landscape pavers 1000 in this example embodimentinclude a glass container 1007 with an optical, highlylight-transmissive coating 1008 on the upper surface, contained withinor below the glass container 1007 upper surface 1009. Within glasscontainer 1007 is a water clear to clear polyurethane rubber 1012 whichsubstantially fills the glass container and extends down to the uppersurface of PV panel 1001. There may be a grout fill material 1013 whichis in between adjacent light-transmissive landscape pavers 1000. Sunrays 1014 pass through the atmosphere 1015 above pavers 1000, throughthe light transmissive landscape pavers 1000, and strike the PV panel1001, allowing solar electric energy to be produced from anaesthetically pleasing landscape paver installation such as a walkway orpatio.

The installations according to the preferred embodiments shown in FIGS.8 and 10 locate conventional PV panels just below the ground, preferablyin a sand base such that the sand material butts up to the bottom sidesurface of the PV panel back sheet or back glass, providing compressivesupport to the PV panel. The PV panels in the array may be connectedtogether in a typical fashion of any convention multi-panel solar array.All of the necessary electrical connections can be implanted in the sandbase beneath the solar modules and waterproofed with conventionallyavailable waterproof connectors. If desired, a water permeable landscapefabric can be installed between the sand layer and the solar panelmodules. Additional cooling of the panels can be attained byintermittently running low volume irrigation drip lines installed withinthe sand base to keep the sand base moist and provide cooling throughthe latent heat of evaporation as water evaporates from the sand base.

Once the base of sand, optional landscape fabric and irrigation driptubing is established and the PV panels are laid on top and connectedup, the light-transmissive landscape pavers can be laid down over themodules to form the upper patio, walkway or drive surface. The lightpermeable landscape pavers can be laid in any pattern and extend outpast the area of the solar panel modules to create a landscape featureindependent of the geometry of the solar array beneath it. In areas oflandscape feature where there are no solar modules below the lightpermeable landscape pavers can be directly laid on a sand base withwater permeable landscape fabric on it.

The light permeable landscape pavers can be designed and fit tightly sothat no filling grout material is needed between the pavers or they canhave an appropriate grout material filled in between the pavers.

The schematic representation of FIG. 11 shows a compositelight-transmissive paver 1100 with integrally molded concrete back 1101,a PV panel 1102, and a clear resin or polymer cover material 1103providing a top surface 1104 for the paver. Composite paver 1100 isplaced on sand or the ground surface 1105 such that it can function as alandscape paver paved patio, walkway or path and an element of afunctioning PV panel array.

The integrally molded composite light-transmissive landscape paver maybe installed by placing the unit over a sand base like a conventionalpaver, connecting the leads from the PV panels embedded in the compositelight-transmissive landscape pavers, and routing the connections to astring inverter and/or appropriate electrical or panel connections. Theelectrical inverter could also be located on the back of the PV moduleand embedded in the concrete on the backside of the composite unitpaver.

As used herein, whether in the above description or the followingclaims, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,”“containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to beopen-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Also, itshould be understood that the terms “about,” “substantially,” and liketerms used herein when referring to a dimension or characteristic of acomponent indicate that the described dimension/characteristic is not astrict boundary or parameter and does not exclude variations therefromthat are functionally similar. At a minimum, such references thatinclude a numerical parameter would include variations that, usingmathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g.,rounding, measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturingtolerances, etc.), would not vary the least significant digit.

Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., inthe following claims to modify a claim element does not by itselfconnote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element overanother, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed.Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms areused merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certainname from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinalterm).

The term “each” may be used in the following claims for convenience indescribing characteristics or features of multiple elements, and anysuch use of the term “each” is in the inclusive sense unlessspecifically stated otherwise. For example, if a claim defines two ormore elements as “each” having a characteristic or feature, the use ofthe term “each” is not intended to exclude from the claim scope asituation having a third one of the elements which does not have thedefined characteristic or feature.

The above-described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate theprinciples of the invention, but not to limit the scope of theinvention. Various other embodiments and modifications to thesepreferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. For example, in someinstances, one or more features disclosed in connection with oneembodiment can be used alone or in combination with one or more featuresof one or more other embodiments. More generally, the various featuresdescribed herein may be used in any working combination.

1. A PV panel assembly including: (a) a PV panel having a panel firstsurface and a panel second surface with the panel first surface and thepanel second surface bounded by a panel peripheral edge, the PV panelbeing operable to provide electrical power in response to operatinglight incident on the panel first surface, wherein the panel peripheraledge is defined by a first side peripheral edge and a second sideperipheral edge, the second side peripheral edge lying opposite to thefirst side peripheral edge; (b) a first lateral side component extendingalong the first side peripheral edge and defining a first lateral sideinside surface; (c) a second lateral side component extending along thesecond side peripheral edge and defining a second lateral side insidesurface which lies opposite to the first lateral side inside surface sothat the first lateral side inside surface, the second lateral sideinside surface, and the panel second surface together define a basevolume; (c) a molded base material located in the base volume, themolded base material comprising a material solidified from a flowablematerial placed in the base volume and molded against at least a portionof the panel second surface and least a portion of both the firstlateral side inside surface and the second lateral side inside surface;and (d) a cover material extending over the panel first surface, thecover material being light-transmissive at least in portions extendingover one or more areas of the panel first surface.
 2. The PV panelassembly of claim 1 wherein the first lateral side component extendsalong the entire length of the first side peripheral edge and the secondlateral side component extends along the entire length of the secondside peripheral edge.
 3. The PV panel assembly of claim 1 wherein: (a)the first lateral side component includes a first border part whichincludes a first border surface facing the first side peripheral edge;and (b) the second lateral side component includes a second border partwhich includes a second border surface facing the second side peripheraledge.
 4. The PV panel assembly of claim 3 wherein: (a) the first lateralside component includes a first panel capture flange having a first sidecapture surface facing the panel first surface in a first area adjacentto the panel peripheral edge; and (b) the second lateral side componentincludes a second panel capture flange having a second side capturesurface facing the panel first surface in a second area adjacent to thepanel peripheral edge.
 5. The PV panel assembly of claim 4 wherein: (a)the first lateral side component extends along a thickness axis of thePV panel assembly from a first panel capture end at which the firstpanel capture flange is located to a first lower end, and wherein thefirst lateral side component includes a base material capture flangeextending transverse to the first lateral side inside surface and havinga first base material capture surface against which the flowablematerial is molded; and (b) the second lateral side component extendsalong the thickness axis of the PV panel assembly from a second panelcapture end at which the second panel capture flange is located to asecond lower end, and wherein the second lateral side component includesa second base material capture flange extending transverse to the secondlateral side inside surface and having a second base material capturesurface against which the flowable material is molded.
 6. The PV panelassembly of claim 4 wherein: (a) the first lateral side componentextends along a thickness axis of the PV panel assembly from a firstpanel capture end at which the first panel capture flange is located toa first lower end, and further including at least one first sideembedding feature protruding from the first lateral side inside surfaceat a location between the first lower end and the panel second surface,the at least one first side embedding feature having first sideembedding surfaces against which the flowable material is molded; and(b) the second lateral side component extends along the thickness axisof the PV panel assembly from a second panel capture end at which thesecond panel capture flange is located to a second lower end, andfurther including at least one second side embedding feature protrudingfrom the second lateral side inside surface at a location between thesecond lower end and the panel second surface, the at least one secondside embedding feature having second side embedding surfaces againstwhich the flowable material is molded.
 7. The PV panel assembly of claim1 further including reinforcing elements embedded in the molded basematerial and extending transverse to a thickness axis of the PV panelassembly from the first lateral side component to the second lateralside component.
 8. The PV panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the covermaterial is a layer of molded material comprising a material solidifiedfrom a flowable material molded against the panel first surface andagainst an outside surface of the first lateral side component and anoutside surface of the second lateral side component.
 9. The PV panelassembly of claim 1 further including a load receiving surface spacedapart from the panel first surface at least by the cover material andfurther including at least one reduced light transmissivity layerextending transverse a thickness axis of the PV panel assembly, the atleast one reduced light transmissivity layer including alight-transmissive material in which is includedlow-light-transmissivity granular material including grains which aresuspended in the reduced light transmissivity layer spaced apart fromthe load receiving surface.
 10. The PV panel assembly of claim 9 whereinthe low-light-transmissivity granular material reduces the lighttransmissivity of the reduced light transmissivity layer by no more thanapproximately 10%.
 11. The PV panel assembly of claim 9 wherein thelow-light-transmissivity granular material in at least some of an areaof the reduced light transmissivity layer is made up of grains having amaximum dimension of between approximately 10 microns and 7500 microns.12. A PV panel installation including: (a) a supporting bed; (b) two ormore PV panel assemblies supported on the supporting bed; and (c)wherein each PV panel assembly includes, (i) a PV panel having a panelfirst surface and a panel second surface with the panel first surfaceand the panel second surface bounded by a panel peripheral edge, the PVpanel being operable to provide electrical power in response tooperating light incident on the panel first surface, wherein the panelperipheral edge is defined by a first side peripheral edge and a secondside peripheral edge, the second side peripheral edge lying opposite tothe first side peripheral edge; (ii) a first lateral side componentextending along the first side peripheral edge and defining a firstlateral side inside surface; (iii) a second lateral side componentextending along the second side peripheral edge and defining a secondlateral side inside surface which lies opposite to the first lateralside inside surface so that the first lateral side inside surface, thesecond lateral side inside surface, and the panel second surfacetogether define a base volume; (iv) a molded base material located inthe base volume, the molded base material comprising a materialsolidified from a flowable material placed in the base volume and moldedagainst at least a portion of the panel second surface and least aportion of both the first lateral side inside surface and the secondlateral side inside surface; and (v) a cover material extending over thepanel first surface, the cover material being light-transmissive atleast in portions extending over one or more areas of the panel firstsurface.
 13. The PV panel installation of claim 12 wherein the firstlateral side component extends along the entire length of the first sideperipheral edge and the second lateral side component extends along theentire length of the second side peripheral edge.
 14. The PV panelinstallation of claim 12 wherein in each respective PV panel assembly:(a) the first lateral side component includes a first border part whichincludes a first border surface facing the first side peripheral edge;and (b) the second lateral side component includes a second border partwhich includes a second border surface facing the second side peripheraledge.
 15. The PV panel installation of claim 14 wherein in eachrespective PV panel assembly: (a) the first lateral side componentincludes a first panel capture flange having a first side capturesurface facing the panel first surface in a first area adjacent to thepanel peripheral edge; and (b) the second lateral side componentincludes a second panel capture flange having a second side capturesurface facing the panel first surface in a second area adjacent to thepanel peripheral edge.
 16. The PV panel installation of claim 14 whereinin each respective PV panel assembly: (a) the first lateral sidecomponent extends along a thickness axis of the PV panel assembly from afirst panel capture end at which the first panel capture flange islocated to a first lower end, and wherein the first lateral sidecomponent includes a base material capture flange extending transverseto the first lateral side inside surface and having a first basematerial capture surface against which the flowable material is molded;and (b) the second lateral side component extends along the thicknessaxis of the PV panel assembly from a second panel capture end at whichthe second panel capture flange is located to a second lower end, andwherein the second lateral side component includes a second basematerial capture flange extending transverse to the second lateral sideinside surface and having a second base material capture surface againstwhich the flowable material is molded.
 17. The PV panel installation ofclaim 13 wherein in each respective PV panel assembly: (a) the firstlateral side component extends along a thickness axis of the PV panelassembly from a first panel capture end at which the first panel captureflange is located to a first lower end, and further including at leastone first side embedding feature protruding from the first lateral sideinside surface at a location between the first lower end and the panelsecond surface, the at least one first side embedding feature havingfirst side embedding surfaces against which the flowable material ismolded; and (b) the second lateral side component extends along thethickness axis of the PV panel assembly from a second panel capture endat which the second panel capture flange is located to a second lowerend, and further including at least one second side embedding featureprotruding from the second lateral side inside surface at a locationbetween the second lower end and the panel second surface, the at leastone second side embedding feature having second side embedding surfacesagainst which the flowable material is molded.
 18. The PV panelinstallation of claim 12 wherein each respective PV panel assemblyincludes a load receiving surface spaced apart from the panel firstsurface at least by the cover material and further including at leastone reduced light transmissivity layer extending transverse to athickness axis of the respective PV panel assembly, the at least onereduced light transmissivity layer including a light-transmissivematerial in which is included low-light-transmissivity granular materialincluding grains which are suspended in the reduced light transmissivitylayer spaced apart from the load receiving surface.
 19. A method ofproducing a PV panel assembly having a PV panel which (i) includes apanel first surface and a panel second surface with the panel firstsurface and the panel second surface bounded by a panel peripheral edge,and which (ii) is operable to provide electrical power in response tooperating light incident on the panel first surface, the methodincluding: (a) supporting the PV panel on a support surface in a firstmolding position in which the panel second surface faces upwardly awayfrom the support surface; (b) defining a base volume of the PV panelassembly, the base volume comprising a volume defined by the panelsecond surface and a peripheral transverse surface extending along theentire length of the panel peripheral edge, the peripheral transversesurface extending transverse to a plane defined by the panel secondsurface; (c) while supporting the PV panel in the first moldingposition, placing a flowable base-forming material within at least aportion of the base volume so that the flowable base-forming material ismolded against at least a portion of the panel second surface and atleast a portion of the peripheral transverse surface; (d) causing theflowable base-forming material to solidify while molded against thepanel second surface and peripheral transverse surface to thereby form amolded base material within the base volume, the molded base materialbeing molded against the portion of the panel second surface and theportion of the peripheral transverse surface; (e) removing the PV panelfrom the first molding position together with the molded base material;and (f) molding a light-transmissive cover material againstsubstantially the entire panel first surface.
 20. The method of claim 19wherein the molded base material remains molded against the portion ofthe peripheral transverse surface when the PV panel is removed from thefirst molding position together with the molded base material.